Srinagar, Nov 17: Calling for a shutdown on Monday, chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Saturday termed the dismissal of appeal against life imprisonment of Muslim League chief Dr Qasim Faktoo as political vendetta by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
“In 2009 the Chief Minster had said that he will look into the case and do justice accordingly. But recently in an interview with Hindustan Times, Omar said that he wanted to see Dr Qasim in jail for whole life. It directly shows that the decision has been given at the behest of the Chief Minster,” Geelani said addressing a press conference at his Hyderpora residence here.
Ruling that life imprisonment means imprisonment for entire life, Jammu and Kashmir High Court Friday dismissed the petition of Dr Qasim seeking his release after completing 20 years in jail.
Geelani said the decision will not only affect Dr Qasim but 19 other persons who are associated with the case. “So we appeal people to observe a complete shutdown against the decision,” he said.
Terming the decision of life imprisonment as part of ‘larger game of Government to suppress people,’ Geelani said, “It is to suppress people who raise voice against the Government and demand implementation of right to self-determination.”
Geelani said that ‘occupation has different aspects. “J&K Policemen who are our own people cannot afford to go against the will of the Government. The role of J&K Police and army is same here. Second aspect is local Government cannot afford to say no to the decision of Indian Government. Local Government works under army. Third aspect is that Government can build bridges and roads but cannot protect honor and resources of local population. It is a stooge Government, they cannot guarantee us anything. Suppressed by these institutions, people then turn to courts but unfortunately courts are also not free in occupation,” Geelani said.
On the occasion, Dr Qasim’s wife and Dukhtaran-i-Millat chief Asiya Andrabi called the court decision ‘shocking but not unexpected.’
Andrabi said, “After completion of 14 years by any convict, Government formulates Review Board to take decision on setting him free, but Dr Qasim was not freed even after the Board decided in his favour. Government had then cited that his case belongs to TADA court where life imprisonment means 20 years. Now after he completed 20 years in jail, High Court again cited some Supreme Court judgment to substantiate that life imprisonment means detention for entire life. In the cited case, the person had committed heinous crime of raping a woman and then murdering her brutally.”
Muslim League has also called for complete shutdown on Monday.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 17 Nov 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 17 Nov 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 18 Nov 2012 00:00:00 IST